Pneumatic cleaning device.



G. L. SAUNDERS.

PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1910.

Patented 001511913.

CECIL L. SAUNDERS, 0F HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.

ENEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Tatented Oct. '7, 1913.

Application filed. September 14, 1910. Serial No. 582,059.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CECIL L. SAUNDERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hot Springs, in the county of Garland and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Cleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a cotton gin in which the separation of the seeds from the fiber is effected by a combination of pneumatic and mechanical devices.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is an elevation, parts of the machine being shown in section; Fig. 2 is an elevation on the plane 22 of Fig. 1, the parts above the plane AA of F1 1 being omitted; and Fig. 3 is a detail of the exhaust knife chamber.

Referring to the drawings, A is an upright cleaning feeder, the cotton to be ginned being delivered thereto between a pair of beaters3, 3, from which it passes to a cleaning roll 4. provided with pins 5 on its surface. Beneath the roll t is a screen 6, through which the dirt and extraneous material are delivered into a trough 7 within which is a screw conveyer 8 for delivering the material to the outside of the apparatus. This trough 7 may be connected to the exhaust fan if desired. The cotton fiber is delivered by the wheel through the chute 9 into a closed chamber within which is mounted a revolving hollow perforated cylinder C. This cylinder C has solid ends 10, 11, which support the perforated shell 12. Suitable bearings 13, 14, are provided for the shaft 15 on which is a driving pulley 16. A pipe E connected to the end 11 of the cylinder leads to the exhaust system (not shown). Mounted about the periphery of the cylinder C are a series of exhaust chambers K, having their lower portions cut away and shaped to correspond to the curve of the perforated cylinder. These chambers K have at one end an air relief valve K and a pipe at the other end for connection to an air exhaust system. Secured to the sides of these chambers K are doctor knives or blades 17, 17, which may be made of hickory wood and are secured to the chambers K by bolts 18 located in slots to provide for adjustment of the blades to clear the surface of the cylinder. A series of reyolving brushes Z) are mounted in the casmg in proximity to the blades.

N are a series of bafile plates, the position.

of which can be adjusted by means of the handles 0.

G is a screen through which the cleaned seeds drop into a hopper having a conveyer g therein for the seeds, and a screen 9 beneath the same, opening into a chamber M connected to the exhaust.

The operation of the device is as follows :The cotton to be ginned passes between the beaters 3 to the cleaning roll 4, thence through the passage 9 to the chamber containing the perforated roll 0, which rotates in the direction of the arrow. The suction causes the cotton fibers and seeds to be drawn to the surface of the cylinder, the cotton being drawn beneath the chambers K, into which it is sucked by the exhaust, the seeds being prevented from entering these chambers K by the doctor blades or knives. The seeds and adherent cotton fiber gradually pass around the cylinder, the bafile plates N serving to force them into contact with the exhaust cylinder, the brushes Z) assisting in this movement. The cleaned seeds drop through the screen G and are removed by the conveyor 9, any residual fiber being sucked on to the exhaustcylinder and removed at the suction chamber L, which is connected to the exhaust system. The exhaust from the chambers K and L may be made somewhat stronger than that within the cylinder C to insure a complete removal of the fiber from such cylinder.

The chambers L and pipe E connected to the end of the cylinder are also provided with relief valves or gates, similar to the valve K shown on the end of the exhaust chamber K, these relief valves or gates, which may be of any well known type, being so constructed and arranged as to permit the entrance of external air upon the production within the chambers of a predetermined vacuum. The presence of these relief valves or gates in the various exhaust pipes of the system permits the regulation and control of the air currents by means of which the removal of the accumulated material is accomplished and insured.

Heated air or other gas may also be introduced for the purpose of drying or otherwise treating the materials being operated on. Thus perforated pipes 2020 may be located immediately beneath the beaters 3-3. A chamber 21 has openings leading into the chute 9, and a series of pipes 22 are located beneath the knives or blades l7-17,

all these pipes and chambers being connected to a heating system to enable a current of heated air or other gas to be projected on to the material.

While I have shown only one cleaning cylindcr, it is obvious that a number of cylins ders may be associated together, one above the other or side by side.

While I have described the device particularly as applicable to ginning cotton, 1 do not wish my claims to be limited to particular application of the device as it is to be distinctly understood that the apparatus-c can be used for the treatment of cots ton, wool or other fibrous material in the process of picking, carding or otherwise manipulating the same, or for cleaning grain, corn, seeds and any other materials from which the dust, fibers, mildew or other adhering material should be removed.

I have in the claims referred to means for removing the fibers, by which I wish to be understood all such material as can be sucked off through the chambers K; and have also in the claims referred to the cleaned material or material to be cleaned by which I wish to be understood the cottonseeds, grain, corn or other ma terials from which the fibers, dust, mildew or other adhering material has been removed.

I claim 1. A pneumatic cleaning device comprisin a casing, a rotatable perforated hollow cy ind'er mounted in said casing, means for supplying heated gas to the surface of such cylinder, means connected to the interior of such cylinder for producing a suction therein, an exhaust chamber mounted in proximity to the exterior surface of such cylinder for withdrawing fibers from the surface of such cylinder, and means for preventing the material to be cleaned from entering such chamber.

2. A pneumatic cleaning device comprising' a casing, a rotatable perforated hollow cylinder mounted in said casing, means forf supplying heated gas to the surface of such cylinder, means connected to the interior of such cylinder for producing a suction therein, an exhaust chamber mounted in proximity to the exterior surface of such cylin- Y fibers from the surder for withdrawing face of such cylinder, and a blade secured to said chamber and in close proximity to said cylinder for preventing the material to be cleaned from entering such chamber.

8. A pneumatic cleaning device comprising a casing, a rotatable perforated hollow cylinder mounted 1n said casing, means connected to the interior of such cylinder for producing a suctlon therein, an exhaust chamber mounted in proximity to the eX- terior surface of such cylinder for withdrawing fibers from the surface of: such mga casing,

r, cylinder, means for preventing the material to. be cleaned from entering such chamber,

and means for removing the cleaned materialr producing a suction therein, baffle plates arranged about said cylinder, a series of exhaust chambers-mounted in. proximity to the exterior surface of such cylinder for with 5 drawing fibersv from the surface ofsuch cylinder, and means for preventing the mas terial to be: cleaned from entering such chambers.

5. A pneumatic cleaning device comprise a rotatable perforated hollow cylinder mounted in said casing, means connected to the interior ofsuch cylinder for producing a suction therein, adjustable baffle plates arranged about said cylinder, a series of exhaust chambers mounted in proximity to the exterior surface of such cylinder for withdrawing fibers from the surface of such cylinder, and means for preventing the material to be cleaned from entering such chambers.

6. A pneumatic cleaning device comprising a casing, a rotatable perforated hollow cylinder mounted in said casing, means connected to the interior of such cylinder for producing a suction therein, baffle plates arranged about said cylinder, a series of exhaust chambers mounted in proximity to the exterior surface of such cylinder for withdrawing fibers from the surface of such cylinder, relief valves for said chambers, and means for preventing the material to be cleaned from entering such chambers.

7. A pneumatic cleaning device comprising a casing, a rotatable perforated hollow cylinder mounted in said casing, means connected to the interior of such cylinder for producing a suction therein, an exhaust chamber mounted in proximity to the exterior surface of such cylinder for withdrawing fibers from the surface ofsuch cylinder, means for preventing the material to be cleaned from entering such chamber, means for deliveringv the material to the casing, and means for delivering heated gas into said casing.

8. A cleaning device comprising a casing, a rotatable perforated suction device mounted therein, means for producing a suction within said device, means for removing the fiber and cleaned material, and means for introducing. heated air or gas into said casing; V

9. In a pneumatic cleaning device for separating adhering fiber from material to be cleaned, the combination wit-h a perforated plate of means for producing a suction on one side thereof, a chamber on the opposite side of said plate and in proximity In testimony whereof, I aflix my signathereto, means for producing a greater sncture in presence of two Witnesses.

tion therein, and means for preventing en CECIL L. SAUNDERS. trance of material to be cleaned into said Witnesses:

5 chamber, whereby the fiber is separated and J. H. BRIOKENSTEIN, removed through the chamber. J. H. BLACKWOOD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

